Africa: China look to Peace and Security in Africa….
….to assist AMISOM with $ 50 Million RMB package – By Peterking Quaye, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – African Union Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has meet with the Chairperson of the African Union today in Addis Ababa today Monday 25th November 2013, to discuss and further assist Africa in the area of development on the continent. This was contained in a press release by the African Union Commission dated November 25th, 2013 from the communication department of the union.
AFRICA CHINA RELATIONS GAIN MOMEMNTUM WITH HIGH LEVEL VISIT BY CHINESE VICE PREMIER TO THE AFRICAN UNION
The Chairperson, commended the relationship between China and Africa and expressed the desire for it to be enriched further in future, “You have been with us over the past fifty years, you were with us during our 50th anniversary celebrations of the OAU/AU in May this year and no doubt, you will be with us for the next fifty years”, Dr Dlamini Zuma told Ms Liu Yandong, the Vice Premier of the Chinese government when the two met.
Dr Dlamini Zuma was very appreciative of the fact that the Chinese premier Mr Xi Xining’s first foreign visit was to Africa and that he made time to meet with a group of African Heads of State during the visit. She also reiterated the AU’s gratitude for the construction of the Union’s headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The relations between African Union and China cover a broad range of socio economic and cultural fields. While appreciating the activities currently being implemented under the existing partnership agreement, the Chairperson said there was need to upscale the cooperation. She highlighted in particular, the fact that Africa needs skilled human resources at this stage of its development, in fields as diverse as agriculture, infrastructure development, health, education and many others. “We need a skills revolution on the continent”, she added by way of emphasis.
The AU is currently engaged in the drafting of Agenda 2063, a framework that will spell out Africa’s growth trajectory over the next fifty years, While explaining the agenda to Ms Yandong, the Chairperson expressed her hope that the remaining conflicts would not be a permanent feature, and that the continent needs to get on with the business of overcoming its developing challenges. In this respect she thanked China for the support it has lent to the African Mission in Somalia, while pointing out that the AU remains seized with resolving issues in Sudan, South Sudan, Central African Republic and Mali. She also highlighted that women in the Sahel region, who have expressed a desire to play their full role in the development and reconstruction of their countries, should be assisted to do so. Enhancing cooperation on peace and security – One of the serious issues to be discussed under this theme would be the Africa China partnership on peace in Africa. Ms Yandong also took the opportunity to announce that China would be extending further assistance to the tune of $50 million RMB to AMISOM which she said is now “at a critical stage”.
